Focusing device for photographic cameras.



' Patontod Oct. 8, I90I.

Inventor.

'llfl ll i F. A. BROWNELL. FOCUSING DEVICE FOR PHOTOGRAPH"! CAIEIAS(Applirution M rib. 7, 1N1.)

(No Model.)

"1: mm in:- cc Vacuum" wunmnton. n. c,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK A. nnownnnL, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO EASTMAN KODAKCOMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

Foo'usrr ieosvlcl-z FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERAS.

SPEGIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N 6. 684,348, dated October8, 1901. Original application filed August 24, 1899, Serial No. 728,275.Divided and this application filed February 7, 190).. Serial (No model.)

T0 (0% whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, FRANK A. BROWNELL,of Rochester, in the county ofMonroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Focusing Devices for Photographic Cameras; and I dohereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact descriptionof the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, and to the reference-numerals markedthereon.

My present invention relates to focusing or adjusting devices forcamerassuch, for instance, as that shown in my application,Serial No.728,275, filed August 24, 1899-of which this application is a division,said devices being simple and cheap in construction and providing ameans capable of application to camerasof any desired type to providethe necessary adjustments for focusing or extending and securingrelatively movable parts-as, for instance, the front or lens-support andthe rear or support for the focusing-screen or sensitized surface; and,further, it consists in certain devices and combination of parts, all aswill be hereinafter described, the novel features being pointed out inthe claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a camera, showing myimprovement applied thereto; Fig. 2, a perspective view of the adjustingand holding device detached; Fig. 3, a vertical sectional view on theline a a of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a perspective view of a modified form of thedevice, and Fig. 5 a horizontal sectional view of the same.

Similar reference-numerals in the severa figures indicate similar parts.

The camera to which my invention is shown applied consists of a body 1,having a movable support 2, provided with a way or track plate 3, 4indicating the camera-front, connected by the bellows 5 with the mainframe or body of the camera and constituting the movable part betweenwhich and the wayplate 3 the adjusting and operating device forming thesnbject-matterof my present invention is applied.

For the purpose of this application we assume that the camera is one ofthe class known as fixed-focus cameras, in which the movablecamera-front or lens-support 4 is drawn to its extreme outward positionwhen in use and is secured to the way-plate 3, the latter being providedwith notches or recesses, with which the holding device engages whenmoved to this point. The camera-front or lens-support 4 in the presentembodiment is provided with afoot piece or block 22, to the sides ofwhich is preferably attached a metal casing or bracket 6, having groovesin its lower edges to receive the edges of the way-plate 3, al though itwill be readily understood that the plate 6 might be otherwise attachedto the front 4 and the block which this plate surrounds dispensed with.Arranged upon the sides of the plate or bracket 6 are catch plates orlovers 7, having their forward ends bent outwardly or divergingslightly, as shown, to form engaging or operating portions and at theirrear ends having lugs or catches 8 extending inwardly and adapted toengage the notches 9, formed in the way-plate 3. These catch-levers areloosely mounted upon screws or studs 10, entering the bracket 6,permitting the separation of their inner or rear ends, which arenormally drawn into engagement with the sides of the way-plate by asingle spring 11, connecting the ears or lugs 12, formed on the levers,said ears preferably extending below lugs 30 on the bracket 6, as shownin Figs. 2 and 5. By curving the catch-levers as shown, causing theirflat sides to bear against the bracket 6, the parts may be readilyconstructed of sheet metal and secured in place by the two screws orstuds mentioned, and the forward extensions '70 of the catch-platesserve as handles not only for releasing the catches, but formanipulating the lens-support or adjustable memberl as well.

In employing devices of this description in cameras having a single lensand of fixed focus the necessary adjustment of focus may be readilyaccomplished by adjusting the lens in its mounting in the front 4; butwhere doubles lenses are employed and the cameraframe is to be moved toa certain definite position each time it is drawn out and secured by theengagement of the catches with the way-plate it is advisable to permitslight variations of the relation between the catches and the notchesformed in the way-plate before the camera is sent out, and this Iaccomplish by making the catch-plate in two parts, one form ing the mainbody of the lever,which is mounted. in adefinite position relative tothe bracket 6, and the other the engaging portion adj ustable thereon. Asimple means of accomplishing this is shown in Figs. at and 5, in whichthe catch-levers are provided with a series of serrations, recesses, ornotches 13, adapted to receive the tongues or lugs 15, formed upon thepieces or extension 16, carrying the lugs or shoulders 17 for engagingthe notches in the way-plate 3 and also the lugs 19, to which the endsof the spring are attached, the levers and plates 15 being connected byscrews 20. In this arrangement the operator when adjusting or testingthe lens moves the support to the proper position, then engages theextension 15 with the notches in the way-plate, and secures saidextensions to the catch-lever by means of the screw.

The various parts of the attachment or device are readily constructed ofsheet material and may be assembled by an unskilled operator and variousmethods of construction may be devised by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim as my invention 1. In a photographic camera, the combinationwith a way, and a support movable thereon, of acurved catch-platepivoted on the side of the bracket having the inner engaging end and theouter operating end, and a spring for operating the catch in toengagement with the way.

2. In a camera, the combination with a way, a support movable thereon,of the two curved catchplates pivoted on the sides of the bracket havingthe outer operating ends and the'inner ends engaging the way, and aspring for operating the engaging ends toward the way to grasp itbetween them.

' 3. In a camera, the combination with a way, and a support movablethereon, of the two curved catch plates arranged on opposite sides ofthe bracket having the diverging op erating ends and the opposite endsadapted to engage the way, the headed stud 10 pass ing through theplates and the spring for drawing the plates into engagement with theway. i

4. The combination with the notched way and the bracket movable thereon,of the curved spring-operated catch-plates pivoted on the sides of thebracket having the relatively adjustable engaging portions cooperatingwith the way-plate.

5. In a camera, the combination with the bellows, the movablecamera-front connected thereto, a supporting-bracket for the front, anda way on which it is movable, of the pivoted spring-operatedcatch-plates mounted on the bracket and adapted to engage the way andhaving the operating portions by means of which the catches can bedisengaged and the camera-front adjusted.

6. In a camera, the combination with the bellows, a support having anotched way thereon, a bracket movable on the way and a lens-carrier onthe bracket and attached to the bellows, of the two curved catch-platespivoted on the sides of the bracket having the inner ends adapted toengage the way and the outer operating ends, and the spring connectingthe inner ends of the catches whereby the operator may release thecatches from the way and move the bracket by grasping the outer ends ofthe catches.

7. In a camera, the combination with the notched way-plate, of thelens-support mov able thereon, the clamping-arms pivoted on the supporthaving the'extension-plates adjustably connected thereto and adapted toengage the notch in the way-plate.

8. In a camera, the combination with the notched way-plate, of thelens-support movable thereon, the curved clamping-arms pivoted on thesides of the support and the plates adjustably secured to the ends ofthe clamping-arms and having the lugs engaging the notched way-plate.

FRANK A. BROWNELL.

Witnesses:

JOHN E. LENAHAN, F. F. CHURCH.

